HERB - Samples from Parkinson [LONG]

[Rauthulfr]

One of the interesting things about Culpeper's work is that with his 
emphasis on Astrology and such, it represents a mind set which tends to be 
more "post-renaissance" in flavor.  Much as we can say that John 
Parkinson's Theatrum Botanicum is the last of the Great Renaissance 
Herbals, and Banackes Herbal is to a great extent the last of the Medieval 
Herbals, Pardinson's Herbal is something of the first for the Post 
Renaissance period. His comments on Basil strike one as a bit odd, and it 
is difficult to tell if he is being serious.  However to balance that I am 
including a lengthy passage from his introduction.

YIS
Rauthulfr

  Culpeper on Basil:
And away to Dr. Reason went I, who told me that it was an herb of Mars, and 
under the scorpion, and perhaps therefore called Basilica, and it is no 
marvel, if it carry a kind of virulent with it.  Every like draws his 
like.  Mizaldus affirms, that being laid to rot in horse-dung, it will 
breed venomous beasts.  Hilarius, a French physician, affirms upon his own 
knowledge, that an acquaintance of his, by common smelling of it, had a 
scorpion bred in his brain.  Something is the matter this herb and rue will 
not grow together; and we know rue is as great an enemy to poison as any 
that grows.
Complete Herbal, P. 15.
  Culpeper's introduction:
Although the ancient Heathens did appropriate the first invention of the 
knowledge of Herbs, and so consequently of Physick, some unto Chiron the 
Centaur, and others to Apollo or Æsculapius his son, yet we that are 
Christians have out of a better School learned, that God, the Creator of 
Heaven and Earth, at the beginning when he created Adam, inspired him with 
the knowledge of all natural things (successively descended to Noah 
afterwards and to his Posterity):  for, as he was able to give names to all 
the living, creatures according to their several natures; so no doubt but 
he had also the knowledge, both what Herbs and Fruits were fit, either for 
Meat or Medicine, for or for Delight.  And that Adam might exercise this 
knowledge, God planted a Garden for him to live in, (wherein even in his 
innocence he was to labor and spend his time) which he stored with the best 
and choicest Herbs and Fruits the earth could produce that he might have 
not only for necessity whereon to feed, but for pleasure also; the place or 
Garden called Paradise importing as much, and more plainly the words set 
down s Genesis the second, which are these; Out of the ground the Lord God 
made to grow every tree pleasant to the sight and good for meat; and in the 
24 of Numbers, the Parable of Balaam, mentioning the Aloe trees that God 
planted; and in other places if there were need to recite them.  But my 
purpose is only to show you, that Paradise was a place (whether you will 
call it a Garden, or Orchard, or both, no doubt of some large extent) 
Wherein Adam was first placed to abide; that God was the Planter thereof, 
having furnished it with trees and herbs, as well pleasant to sight, as 
good for meat, and that he being to dress and keep this place, must of 
necessity know all the things that grew therein, and to what uses they 
served, or else his labor about them, and knowledge in them, had be in 
vain.  And although Adam lost the place for his transgression, yet he lost 
not the natural knowledge, nor use of them:  but that, God made the whole 
world, and all the creatures therein for Man, so he may use all things as 
well of pleasure as of necessity, to be helps unto him to serve his 
God.  Let men therefore, according to their first institution, so use their 
service, that they also in them may remember their service to God, and not 
(like our Grand-mother Eve) set their affections so strongly, on the 
pleasure in them, as to deserve the loss of them in this Paradise, yea and 
of Heaven also.  For truly from all sorts of Herbs and Flowers we may draw 
mater at all times not only to magnify the Creator that has given them such 
diversities of form, scents and colors, that the most cunning Workman 
cannot Imitate, and such virtues and properties, that although we know 
many, yet many more lie hidden and unknown, but many good instructions also 
to ourselves:  That as many herbs and flowers with their fragrant sweet 
smells do comfort, and as it were revive the spirits, and perfume a whole 
house; even so such men as live virtuously, laboring to do good, and profit 
the Church of God and the4 Common wealth by their pains or penny, do as it 
were send forth a pleasing savor of sweet instructions, not only to that 
time wherein they live, and are fresh, but being dry, withered and dead, 
cease not in all after ages to do as much or more.  Many herbs and flowers 
that have small beauty or savor to commend them, have much more good use 
and virtue:  so many men of excellent rare parts and good qualities do lie 
hid unknown and not respected, until time and use of them do set forth 
their properties.  Again, many flowers have a glorious show of beauty and 
bravery, yet stinking in smell or else of no other use:  so many do make a 
glorious ostentation, and flourish in the world, when as if they stink not 
horribly, before God, and all good men, yet surely they have no other 
virtue then but their outside to commend them, or leave behind them,.  Some 
also rise up and appear like a Lilly among Thorns, or as a goodly Flower 
among many Weeds or Grass, either by their honorable authority, or eminence 
of learning or riches, whereby they excel others, and thereby may do good 
to many.  The frailty also of Man’s life is learned the soon fading of them 
before their flowering, or in their pride, or soon after being either 
cropped by the hand of the spectator, or by a sudden blast in withered and 
parched, or by the revolution of time decaying of it’s own nature; also 
that the fairest flowers or fruits first ripe, are soonest and first 
gathered.  The mutability also of that and persons, by this, that as where 
many goodly flowers & fruits did grow this year and age, in another they 
are quite pulled or digged up, and either weeds and grasses grow in their 
place, or some building erected thereon, and their place is no more 
known.  The Civil respects to be learned from them are many also:  for the 
delight of the varieties both of forms, colors and properties of Herbs and 
Flowers, has ever been powerful over dull, unnurtured, rustic and savage 
people, led only by Natures instinct; how much more powerful is it or 
should be in the minds of generous persons? For it may well be said, he is 
not human, that is not allured with this object.  The study, knowledge, and 
travel in them as they have been entertained of great Kings, Princes and 
Potentates, without disparagement to their Greatness, or hindrance to their 
more serious and weighty Affairs:  so no doubt unto all that are capable 
thereof, it s not only pleasant, but profitable, by comforting the mind, 
spirits and senses with an harmless delight and by enabling the judgment to 
confer and apply help to many dangerous diseases.  It is also an instructor 
in the verity of the genuine Plants of the Ancients, and a Corrector of the 
many errors where unto the world by continuance has been diverted, and 
almost therein fixed, by eradicating in time, and degrees, the pernicious 
willfulness of many, who because they were brought up in their errors, are 
most unwilling to leave them without consideration of the good or evil, the 
right or wrong, they draw on therewith.  And for my self I may well say, 
that had not mine own pains and studies by a natural inclination been more 
powerful in me then any others help (although some through an evil 
disposition and ignorance have so far traduced me as to say this was rather 
another man’s work then mine own, but I leave them to their folly) I had 
never done so much as I here publish; nor been fit or prepared for a 
larger, as time may suddenly, (by God’s permission) bring to light, if the 
malevolent dispositions of degenerate spirits do not hinder the 
accomplishment.  But persuading myself there is no shower that produces not 
some fruit, or no word but works some effect, either of good to persuade, 
or of reproof to evince; I could not but declare my mind herein, let others 
judge or say what they please.  For l have always held it a thing unfit, to 
conceal or bury that knowledge God has given, and not to impart it, and 
further others therewith as much as is convenient, yet without ostentation, 
which I have ever hated.  Now further to inform the courteous Reader, both 
of the occasion that led me on to this work, and the other occurrences, to 
it.  First, having perused many Herbals in Latin, I observed that most of 
them have either neglected or not known the many diversities of the flower 
Plants, and rare fruits are known to us at this time, (except Clusius 
[sic.]) have made mention but of a very few.  In English likewise we have 
some extant, as Turner and Dodonæus translated, who have said little of 
Flowers Gerard who is last, has no doubt given us the knowledge of as many 
as he attained unto in his time, but since his days we have had many more 
varieties, then he or they ever heard of, as may be perceived by the store 
l have here produced.  And none of them particularly featured those that 
are beautiful flower plants, fit to store a garden of delight and pleasure, 
from the wild and unfit:  but have interlaced many, one among, another, 
whereby many that have desired to have fair flowers, have not known what to 
choose, or what to desire.  Diverse Books of Flowers also have been set 
forth, some in our own Country, and more in others, all which are as it 
were but handfuls snatched from the plentiful Treasury of Nature, none of 
them being willing or able to open all sorts, and declare them fully; but 
the greatest hindrance of all men’s delight was, that none of them had 
given any description of them, but the bare name only.  To satisfy therefor 
their desires that are lovers of such Delights, I took upon me this labor 
and charge, and have here selected and set forth a Garden of all the 
chiefest for choice and fairest for show, from among all the several Tribes 
and Kindreds of Natures beauty, and have ranked them as near as I could, or 
as the work would permit, in affinity one unto another.  Secondly, and for 
their sakes that are studious in Authors, I have set down the names [which] 
have been formerly given unto them, with some of their errors, not 
intending to cumber this work with all that might be said of them, because 
the deciding of the man controversies, doubts, and questions that concern 
them, pertain more fitly to a general History:  yet I have been in some 
places more copious and ample then at the first I had intended, the 
occasion drawing on my desire to inform others with what I thought was fit 
to be known, reserving what else might be said to another time & work; 
wherein (God willing) I will enlarge my self the subject matter requiring 
it at my hands, in that my small ability can effect.  Thirdly, I have also 
to embellish this Work set forth the figures of all such plants and flowers 
as are material and different one from another:  but not as some others 
have done, that is, a number of the figures of one sort of plant that have 
nothing to distinguish them but the color, for that I hold to be 
superfluous and waste.  Fourthly, I have also set down the Virtues and 
Properties of them in a brief manner, rather desiring to give you the 
knowledge of few certain and true, then to relate, as others have done, a 
needless and false multiplicity, that so there might as well profit as 
pleasure be taken from them, and that nothing might be wanting to 
accomplish it fully.  And so much for this first part, my Garden of 
pleasant an delightful Flowers.  My next Garden consists of Herbs and 
Roots, Fit to be eaten of the rich and poor as nourishment and food, as 
sauce or condiment, as salad or refreshing, for pleasure or profit; where I 
do as well play the Garderner, to show you (in brief but not at large) the 
times and manner of sowing, setting, planting, replanting, and the like 
(although all these things, and many more then are true, are set down very 
largely in the several books that others have written of this subject) as 
also to show of from the Kitchen uses (because they are Kitchen herbs, &c.) 
although I confess but very sparingly, not intending a treatise of cookery, 
but briefly to give a touch thereof; and also the Physical properties, to 
show somewhat that others have not set forth; yet not to play the Empericke 
[sic.] and give you recipes of medicines for all diseases, but only to show 
in some sort the qualities of Herbs, to quicken the minds of the 
studious.  And lastly an Orchard of all sorts of domestic or foreign, rare 
and good fruits, fit for this our Land and Country, which is at this time 
better stored and furnished than ever in any age before.  I have herein 
endeavored, as in the other Gardens, to set forth the varieties of every 
sort in as brief a manner as possibly could be, without superfluous 
repetitions of descriptions, and only with especial notes of difference in 
leaves, flowers and fruits.  Some few properties also are set down, rather 
from the chiefest then the most, as the work did require.  And moreover 
before every of these parts I have given Treatises of the ordering, 
preparing end keeping the several Gardens and Orchard, with what so ever I 
thought was convenient to be known for every of them.
Thus I have showed you both the occasion and scope of this Work, and herein 
have spent my time, pains and charge, which if well accepted, I shall think 
well employed, and may the sooner hasten the fourth Part, A Garden of 
Simples; which be quiet no longer at home, the that it can bring his Master 
news of faire weather for the Journey. 

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